The Middle Update 12/18/15

Band Concert a Hit!
Thanks to Mr. Hazard and Mrs. Graeve for all the work that lead to such an outstanding concert.  The gym was packed and performances were quite impressive.  Thanks also to all of the staff members that came to support the kids and helped out with the final product.  It was a great community event!

Class Periods till Break
As we near Winter Break, it is really important to continue our routine and structure, using every minute of class time right up until 2:40 on Tuesday afternoon.

Those relationships...
A short article about those all important teacher/student relationships - HERE

New Student of the Month Breakfast Dates
I shuffled the remaining breakfast dates around a bit.  The new dates are reflected on the MS Calendar of Events, and are:
1/28/16
2/25/16
3/24/16
4/28/16

Appreciation
I would like to show my appreciation for all of you that make our middle school great by offering some refreshments after school on Tuesday.  I'll plan to have a spread set up in Room 3 at 3:00 on Tuesday afternoon.  I hope you'll join us.

Twitter Find of the Week

Todd ‏@ToddWhitaker  1h1 hour ago

The 6 Characteristics of Effective Praise http://www.middleweb.com/26483/the-6-characteristics-of-effective-praise/ …

Duty Next Week
Morning - Greer
Bus - O'Connor

Data
Tardy Data
This Week - 24 (after 1st Block), 30 (1st Block)
Last Week - 35 (after 1st Block), 24 (1st Block)
1st Week of Dec. - 41 (after 1st Block), 23 (1st Block)

The Middle Update 12/11/15

Mid-Quarter Grades
This is a reminder that mid-quarter grades should be posted in Infinite Campus by the end of business today.  As the quarter continues, the posted grades should be updated to reflect the student's current level of performance in each standard.  I will be sending a note out to parents at the end of the day today letting them know to check Campus for mid-quarter grades, along with some other updates.

Staff Meeting Next Week Wednesday 12/16/15
We will have a staff meeting on Wednesday, 12/16 at 2:50 in Room #3.  We will review school data, learn more Google tools, check in on the PLP process, and continue our targeted assessment work.

Student of the Month Breakfast
We will be hosting our December Student of the Month Breakfast next Thursday morning in the IMC.  Thank you to our presenters, Ms. Deans, Mr. Hazard, Mrs. Hendrickson, and Mr. Kallungi.

Community Voice
Poynette Middle School will be featured in one of the upcoming Community Voice columns in the Poynette Press.  Click HERE for a sneak preview of the article.

New Co-Curricular Offerings at PMS
Our new Archery Club and Science Olympiad clubs are getting underway.  These are more opportunities for our Middle School students to be engaged and connected while growing their skills.  Mr. Hazard and Ms. Vian will advise the Archery Club, and Ms. Schoen will be advising the Science Olympiad.

Twitter Find of the Week

edutopia ‏@edutopia  13h13 hours ago

7 strategies of highly skilled readers: http://edut.io/qYGFaL .

130 retweets133 likes

 

 

 

Duty Next Week
Morning - Frehner
Bus - Rogness

Data
Attendance Rate -
Through Last Week - 95.9%
Through Today - 95.92%

Behavior Referrals - Through December 11
15-16 - 86 Events, 44 Students
14-15 - 153 Events, 54 Students
13-14 - 123 Events, 78 Students

The Middle Update 12/4/15

Targeted Assessments
If your students have taken the assessment that you targeted for them on Monday, go ahead and make a copy of the Analysis Form, and complete it with the results and analysis from the assessment.  When you have the analysis document finished, please share it with me.  Once you share it with me, I will meet with you to review the results.  At the next staff meeting, we will review this process with some specific teacher examples.  No worries if you plan to give your assessment after the next staff meeting.

Mid-Term Grades
Mid-Term grades will be due by the end of the day on Friday, 12/11.  I plan to send a Campus Messenger blast alerting parents that grades are posted right away on Monday.  Like we discussed at an earlier staff meeting, from the time they are posted, the grades should be updated to reflect current student progress.

Instructional Rounds
I appreciate our teachers for taking the time to get into another classroom this week.  I have heard some positive comments from teachers about things they have seen in the classroom.  This is an opportunity to open the doors to good, solid conversations about teaching practices, and to get a feel for the instruction that is happening in our building.

Next Staff Meeting
Please mark your calendars for the next Staff Meeting.  It will be on Wednesday, 12/16 at 2:50 in Room 3.

Students of the Month
Our next Student of the Month Breakfast will be on Thursday, 12/17 at 7:00am.  Thanks to Ms. Deans, Mr. Hazard, Mrs. Hendrickson, and Mr. Kallungi for representing the teachers.  Also, if you see the following students, please congratulate them:

Claire Pederson
Kirstin Doherty
Brock Chadwick
Whisper Erickson
Tyler Reible
Leah Riddle
Aiden Rolling
Nina Weichmann.

Twitter Find of the Week

edutopia ‏@edutopia  20h20 hours ago

37 ways to help kids learn to love #reading: http://edut.io/PMxHfl .

155 retweets129 likes

Duty Next Week
Morning - Deans
Bus - Schoen

Data
Attendance Rates (through 12/4)
15-16 - 95.9%
14-15 - 95.27%
13-14 - 95.79%